...what's your guy's name? Fodoshy Shmoshy?...

Yes, that's the question that my fellow African History MA student asked me today after we both successfully defended our thesis proposals to a panel of professors...The name she MEANT to say was Foday Sankoh (late leader of the now disbanded Revolutionary United Front of Sierra Leone). Of course, she'd been drinking...and Foday Sankoh is a bit of a tricky tongue twister, so she's forgiven.

This morning was a crazy affair. I defended my thesis proposal at 8:45am (and I am not a morning person...believe me!) and then at 10am I had to present a lecture for the first year Global History in the 20th Century class that I TA. Thankfully, both went swimmingly well (uh huh...swimmingly) and it's smooth sailing for me from here on in until August when my thesis is due. I need to have my thesis completed by the end of August because....I accepted the teaching position I was offered with the American International School of Freetown to teach in Sierra Leone for a year!! That's right kids, as of August 21st I will be living in Sierra Leone.

I haven't quite wrapped my head around the concept yet, nor do I currently have the funds to pay for my ticket to West Africa...but I figure these are minor details. I totally feel I am meant to go and as such I have faith that the money and "stuff" I need for the trip will materialise when necessary. As for now, I have to bury my head in books with such fascinating titles as " Between Democracy and Despair: The Sierra Leone Civil War," "African Guerrillas," and "Conflict and Collusion in Sierra Leone."

I know, I can't wait either!